Improvement in submarine tunnels



. ZSheetS-Sheetl. 1.11- JONES, SUBMARINE-TUNWEL. No 17Z,OZ8,- ,Patentedian. 11,1876.

NVFEIERS, PHDTO-LITHOGRAPHER, WASHINGTON, D, C

. UNITED STATES PATENT OFFIon.

JOHN FRANKLIN JONES, OF MAROELLUS FALLS, NEW YORK.

' IMPROVEMENT IN SUBMARINE TUNNELS.'

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 172,028, dated January 11, 1876; application filed February 25, 1875.

CASE A.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, J OHN FRANKLIN J ONES, of Marcellus Falls, in the county of Onondaga, in the State of New. York, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Submarine Tunnels, of which the following, taken in connection with the accompanying drawing, is a full, clear, and exact description.

Nothing has taxed the skill and ingenuity enlarged longitudinal section, showing the construction of the tunnel, shield, and excavator, and their connection; Fig. 3, part of a crosssection of the tunnel on the line 3 in Fig. 2 Fig. 4, asection through line 2 z in Fig.2, showing the construction of the excavator at that point. Fig. 5 shows the interiorarrangement of one of my tunnels for the purpose of accommodating transit of cars, vehicles, and pedestrians. Fig. 6 shows a front of another form of an excavator, especially suitable to operate in hard material. Fig. 7 is aside view of same; Fig. 8, an enlarged view of the face-plate and stuffing-box for the main shaft; Fig. 9, an enlarged sectional view of the packing and expanding rings as applied to the shield, and Fig. 10 shows another form of the excavator, suitable for hard material.

The tunnel is constructed of castiron sections A A, having flanges around their edges, and fastened together by bolts or rivets, as shown in the drawing. The sections A are made of three or more segments, a to, according to the size of the tunnel, being likewise provided with flanges, and bolted or riveted together. 'Each of these sections A A has a recess, b, around its outer periphery, into which are fitted expanding rings a, resting on screws d. e is a rubber, wood, or other suitable packing, in the same recess, and on top of the expanding rings 0.

By means of the screws d the rings 0 are expanded, and the packing e pressed outward against the shield B, thereby making a water tight joint. The shield when intended for tunnels of large dimensions is also made in sections, with flanges outward where in contact with the tunnel, and inward at the forward end where in contact with the excavator.

0 is the excavator, shown in three forms, to suit the material to be excavated. This excavator is attached to the shaft 11, and turned by spur-wheel f, having a groove in its hub, to lit a feather 011 the shaft i, so as to allow the shaft to move longitudinally during its revolution. 9 is a wheel, having a screwthread in its hub. to fit the screw cut on the shaft '6. The wheel g being secured to prevent its lateral or longitudinal movement, will force the shaft i forward and the excavator into the earth in advance of the tunnel. This excavator is intended to be used for tunnels partly above the surface. The shaft 2' passes. through the stuffingbox h, attached or cast on a face-plate, l, which is bolted to the inner face of the shield B. The aperture in-the shield is somewhat larger than the shaft 11, and the face-plate i being constructed similar to those on a lathe, the shaft can be moved out of the center, to give the excavator the desired direction, and admit of turning small angles. This device, however, is more especially intended for tunnels of small size. large tunnels I propose to use a globe-joint in place of the adjustable face-plate.

m, m, a, and n are man-holes. In case a large stone or other obstruction should be met with, a man can enter the chamber 19 through the man-hole n; then, by attaching a pipe, compressed air can be employed, to admit of opening the man-holes n and m, when the'obstruction can be reached and removed. The compressed air can also be employed for the purpose of freeing thespace between the excavator and shield.

Tunnels constructed for obtaining a supply of water are to be provided with an inlet, 0,

admit of turning slight angles. 7' rare collars on the shaft 11, rigidly attached thereto. t is a sleeve, provided with a socket for the braces u u, and can be connected with either of the collars rte adjust the distance between the shield and excavator. By means of these collars the shield is forced forward with the excavator. The inlet 0 is attached to the shield before entering the water, and carried with it the required distance for obtaining pure water, thereby avoiding the expense of building cribs or cotter-dams in deep water for that purpose.

My new cast-iron submarine tunnel is intended for all purposes other tunnels are used for, and more especially for railroads and pneumatic transit, as it is stronger, and resists more vibration, than others.

I do not wish to confine myself to any particular cutting devices on the face of the excavator, as this is dependent on the quality of the material.

What I claim as my invention is 1. A cast-iron submarine tunnel, constructed of sections'A A, provided with packing e and expanding rings a, in recess 1), substantially as described, for the purpose specified.

2. The stuffing-box h, provided with the'adjustable face-plate Z, constructed as shown, in combination with the shield B and excavatorshaft 4;, substantially as described, for the purpose set forth.

3. The cone-shapedexcavator C, provided with cutting devices on its surface, and the shaft i, in combination with the shield B and iron tunnel, constructed and operating substantially as described.

4. The combination of the man-holem in the excavator O, man-hole n in the shield B, and chamber 1) in said shield, provided with manhole a, the whole constructed and arranged' substantially as described and shown, for the purpose specified.

5. The inlet 0, provided with a screen and filter on top, and a valve on the bottom, constructed as described, in combination with a submarine tunnel, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name and affixed my seal inv the presence of two attesting witnesses at Syracuse, in the county of Onondaga and State of New York,

this 17th day of February, 1875.

JOHN FRANKLIN JONES. Witnesses:

OHAES. H. HEY, CHRIS. HOLMSTRUP. 

